Dog Control & Licensing

Dog Control ensures responsible dog ownership as set out in the Dog Responsibility Bylaw and mandates the humane treatment of dogs within our District. 

Dog Owners are to ensure the following:

• Licence your dog after it is four (4) months old.
• Ensure your dogs are not running at large and are on a leash at all times when off the owner's property.
• Pick up your dog's excrement.
• Prevent your dog from barking disturbances.
• Limit the number of dogs and cats to no more than five (5) pets per property; no more than three (3) dogs or three (3) cats per property (a combination within the limits, not to exceed 5 in total).
• Ensure quality of care by providing clean drinking water and suitable quality and quantity of food; provide exercise, veterinary medical care, and protection from heat, cold and wet.
• Prevent your dog from biting, threatening, or chasing other animals, or jumping on people.
• Do not leave your dog unattended while tethered.
• Do not leave your dog in a vehicle.
• Do not transport dogs in the back of a truck, unless it is confined in a pen or a cage, or unless it is secured in a body harness or other manner of fastening to prevent it from jumping or falling off the vehicle or otherwise injuring itself.

Besides assisting the District in identifying lost dogs, licensing helps the Bylaw Enforcement Officer know that a dog has not been abandoned or is not a stray, as unclaimed dogs without a license are impounded and may be reluctantly euthanized if unadoptable. Licensing also helps track the number of pets a person owns on one property, thus reducing the potential nuisances arising from barking, running at large, and irresponsible ownership. Our licensing fee structure also encourages owners to spay or neuter their dogs to reduce over population and improve a dog's general disposition.

Licensing helps the District control costs attributed to dog control services which include setting up a dog shelter to provide support for the rescue of lost or abandoned dogs with food and shelter, and if necessary, providing for an abandoned dog veterinarian care. It also helps offset the costs for Bylaw Enforcement personnel, adoption services, and to supply and equip vehicles for the transport of dogs.